Briquette machine



Oa. 19, 1943. Q C, SAPP 2,332,170

BRIQUETTE MACHINE Filed April 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 Eigi ,4/ s635' *7/7 .9 25 5gg 62g 4 g @9 5 r1 L, l

Snventt Oct. 19, 1943. .4 G. c. sAPP BRIQUETTE MACHINE v Filed April 21,1941 2 sneetssheet 2 gg a 75, 55' ff /9 l /5 g5 v .Z5 Zig. 4

Zmventor Gea/ye( S22/0,0

w21/Mg Patented Oct. 19,I 1943 BRIQUETTE MACHINE l George C. Sapp,Spokane, Wash.` Application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,644l

5`o1aims. (c1. ,z5-,12)

This invention relates to a briquetting machine and it is one object ofthe invention to provide a machine of this character by the use of whichsaw Vdust, ground shavings, and other wood waste-may be formedintobriquettes under `very high pressure.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a briquetting machine ofsuch construction that as the material is compressed into blocks,portions of the blocksfwill be formed into dowels which hold the'blocksin engagement 'with each other and form an elongated mass ofinterconnected blocks or sections, means being provided for cutting themass between the blocks or at such points that a desired number ofblocks will remain in engagement with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a briquetting machinewherein the material is intermittently delivered into a compressingcham-y ber in front of a compressing piston which is reciprocated intimed relationy tothe feeding mechanism and forces thedelivered materialthrough the compressing chamber in the form of blocks disposedV incontacting engagement with each other.

Anotherv object of the invention is to so form the plunger for forcingthe material through the compressing chamber that a` Acore-formingplunger operating' through the piston will be held in retracted orinoperative \position vwithin the piston -until pressure is developedwhich is suflicient toforce the plunger forwardly to extended positionforpunching a core from the block and into a previously formed blockwhere it serves as a dowel for holding the blocks in engagementwith'each other. I

Another object of the invention is to so assemble the'piston and plungerthat they'may be operated through the 4medium of a single pistonrodoperatively connected with a cam carried by a rotary drive shaft. f.v

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a machine of this characterwherein the .blocks are subjected to very highV pressure as they movethrough the compression chamber, compression being effected through themedium of strips constituting liners for walls ofthe chamber and forcedinwardly by springs ymounted in an improved manner. 1 f Another objectof the invention is to so mount the strips and cooperating springsthat'the strips converge toward the front end of the machine and thuscause pressures applied"` to the blocks to be progressively increasedduring k'forward Ywith an outlet.

movement of the united/blocks toward at the front v.of the machine.Another object of the invention is to so mount the lining strips thatthey willbe braced against longitudinal movement and thus prevented frombeing'shifted longitudinally out of proper posithe outlet tion as theunited blocks are forced forwardly between the strips toward the outletatV the front' n end of the machine.

` yAnother object of the invention is toA provide a'machine wherein thecompressionchamber is water-jacketed in order to prevent overheating,due to the very high pressure exerted. Another object of this inventionis to provide aA machine of this character consisting of sections whichmay bereasily taken apart when cleaning or repairs are necessary andthen easily and vquickly reassembled.

kIn the accompanying drawings: y f

Fig. 1 lisv a side elevation of the improved briquetting machine. c y

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally Vthrough therear portion of the machine. v .Fig is a transverse sectional View onthe line `3--3 ofFigLl. Fig. 4 is a Ysectional View on the line 4 4 ofFig: '1-

,Fig 5 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the forwardportion of the machine, on the line 5-5 of Fig. l,"

Fig. 6 is a View showing two of the compressed blocls in section anddowels in elevation. i'

'Y This improved briquetting machine has front and rear sections l and2, and a head 3 at its-rear end, the front section I consisting ofupper' and lower castings 4 and 5 which are bolted to 'each 'other andthe rear section 2 also consisting of upper and lower castings 6 and 'lwhich are bolted to each other. The adjoining ends of the front and rearsections are bolted to each other and the head 3` is bolted to the rearend ofthe rear section. It will thus be seen that when it is necessary,the `sections ofthe casing'of the machine maybe taken apart and afterrepairs are made or v portions cleaned, easily reassembled. The castingsforming the sections of the casing have inner walls which cooperate witheach other to form` a compression chamber 8 which extends longitudinallyI through the casing substantially axially thereof and, at its front endis provided The rear section 2 is water jackete'd so -that heatdeveloped during. forming ofthe blocks may be absorbed, the casting Ebeing-formed with an inlet port 9 to receive a pipe placed under desiredtension.

through which water is delivered into the casing section and the lowercasting 1 being formed with an outlet port I to receive a dischargepipe. The webs I I and abutting ends of the casing sections I and 2 areformed with ports I2 in order that the casing may be reinforced withoutinterfering with circulation ofv cooling water through the casingsection. Lining strips I3 of strong steel are mounted within thecompression chamber 8 and, referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that thestrips I3 within the portion of the chamber formed in casing section 2,are formed with lugs i4 engaged in pockets I5 in order that the stripsmay be braced against longitudinal movement as blocks of compressedmaterialare forced through the compression chamber 8. Lin- A ing stripsI6V extend longitudinally in the portion of the compression .chamber 8within the casing section 2, and certain of these strips carry lugs I1which pass through openings I8 in walls of the chamber, as shown in Fig.4,- and are formed with stems I5 about which engage inner ends ofsprings 20. These springs have their outer end portions engaged aboutthe stems `2l of abutments 22 against which .inner vends of screws 23bear and from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that whenthe screws are tightened, the lining strips will be forced away fromwalls of the compression chamber and the springs It will also be notedthat the lining strips converge toward the outlet 25 at the front end ofthe casing so that, as the blocks of compressed materialare shiftedforwardly, they will be compressed from their sides by action of thesprings and the material ejected in a highly compressed condition. yThefact that front ends of the lining strips abut the front wall of thecasing about the outlet and the fact that the lugs I1 bear against rearfaces of the webs 26, causes the strips to be braced against forwardshifting movement and the strips cannot move out of their properpositions while compressed blocks are lbeing forced forwardly toward theoutlet. f

The head 3 is constructedas shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and has a neck 21disposed vertically and in which a plunger 28 operates.k This .plungerhas a stem 29 formed with a cross head 30 at its upper end and a spring3| urges the plunger downwardly. A cam 32 carried by a shaft 33 servesto shift the plunger upwardly through engagement with the cross head aslthe shaft rotates, `and rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft by abelt 34 trained about a pulley 35 carried by the shaft. The lowerportion of belt 34 is trained about another pulley 36 carried by a driveshaft 51 to which rotary motion is imparted in any desired manner andthis shaft 31 also carries a cam disc 38 about which is mounted a collar39 carrying an arm 48. One end of a piston rod 4I is pivoted to the arm40 and the other end of the piston rod is pivoted to an ear 42projecting outwardly from a plunger43. The plunger operates in a pocket44 formed in a piston 45 with the reduced end portion of stem 45 of thepiston engaged in an opening 41 at the inner end of the piston, and whenthe vplunger is shifted forwardly in the pocket, its stem will passthrough the opening and protrude from the front end of the piston.Across `lhead 48 is carried by the piston rod between collars 49 andthis cross head is formed with openings 50 through which pass rods 5Icarried by the piston and having heads 52 at their outer endsconstituting abutments against which the cross head is yieldably heldVby Isprings 53. From an inspection ofvFig. 2, it will be readily seenthat as the cam 38 turns with the drive shaft and the piston rod forcesthe piston forwardly, material in the chamber 54 of the head 3 will beforced forwardly into the compression chamber and compressed during thisforward movement. The piston rod moves forwardly to such an extent thatbefore completion of its stroke the material will be given a preliminarycompression and the pressure will then have increased to such an extentthat resistance of the springs will be overcome and the plunger willmove forwardly relative to the piston and its stem will be projectedthrough the opening 41 and .serve as a punch to force the center portionof the block of compressed material forwardly. Itwill thus be seen thatduring operation of the apparatus, cores 54 ofcompressed material willbe forced forwardly and since each core remains partially within theopening 55 of the block 56 from which it is forced and partially withinthe f corresponding pocket of the block in advance thereof, the cores,which are yof greater density than the blocks, will serve as dowel pinsfor connecting the blocks and forming a cylindrical body 51 ofcompressed material which is progressively forced forwardly out of the`compression chamber. The-fact that the material moves forwardly betweenthe lining strips I6 which are urged inwardly by springs 20, causes-theunited blocks and the `dowel `pins or cores 54 to be highlycompressedand form a Very compact mass which is to be cut intoAbriquettes of desired length. The piston 45 and the plungerl operate 'insuch timed relation to each other that the piston moves forwardly toforce a block of material into the compression chamber and then movesrearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, the plunger 28 being heldinfelevated position, above the inlet '58, during this movement of thepiston by the cam 32, which then releases the cross bar 30 so that thespring 3I may force the plunger downwardly to move another charge ofmaterial into the chamber 54 for forming another block during the nextforward movement of the piston. The material is delivered from a hopper59 through aspout 60 having its lower end registering vwith the inlet58;

In order that the lcylindrical body of compressed material dischargedfrom the machine may be cut into brique'ttes of desired length, therehas been provided a saw 6I fixed to a shaft E2.

which is rotatably mounted in the free end of an armorrbar 63. This armis rotatably mounted aboutithe shaft Mofa motor -mounted at the frontend of the casing section 2 and a spring 66 yieldably holds the armraised so that the saw will be out of the way `of the advancing mass ofcompressed material. A belti61 which is trained about'pulleys 68 and'66, transmits rotary motion to the saw shaft to rotate the saw at highspeed and cause the compressed body to be out into brquettes as the 'armis swung downwardly and inwardly over the material.

Each briquette cons-ists of a number of blocks which are held in endtoend engagement by the cores or dowel pins and since the material issubjected lto very high pressure as it moves forwardly through themachine, there will be no danger of the blocks separating. The mass ofmaterial forced forwardly under pressure and ejected from the outlet atthe front of the machine, may be circular in cross section, rectangular,or of any other desired shape, but, in the 'whereby I'adjustment ofi thescrews :places the strips underpredeterminedpressure, and means forcutting Vsections from the ejected mass and forming briquettes of'predetermined length.

present illustration,A the lining strips are so7 arranged that thematerial will be squarefin'c'ross section and the briquettes will haveflat `side faces and resemble sticks of Wood. While ithas been statedthat the materialused for forming the briquettes may be saw dust,shavings, or the like, it is to be understood that any `materialcustomarily used for forming briquettes may be used with thisbriquet-,ting machine'. f

Having` thus described the invention, what is claimed'isz f l. Abriquetting machine comprising a casing having a chamber thereinprovided with a rear inlet and an outlet at its front end, means forforming charges of material into blocks and force ing the blocksforwardly through the chamber, means for punching portions from thelblocks and projecting same forwardly to form openings in the blocks andforwardly extending dowels engaged inthe openings of adjoining blocksand holding the blocks in end to end engagement with each other, liningstrips in the chambensprings for urging the strips transversely of theblocks and applying high pressure thereto to form the blocks and dowelsinto an elongated mass of highly compressed material reinforced byA thedowels, said mass being forced out of the outlet as the blocks areformed and forced forwardly, and means for cutting sections from themass of material reinforced by the dowels and forming briquettes ofdesired length.

2. A briduetting machine comprising a casing having a chamber thereinprovided with a rear inlet and an outlet at its front end, meansforcompressing material in the chamber and forming blocks moved forwardlythrough the chamber,

means for punching portions o-f compressed ma-y terial from the blocksand forcing same forwardly into other blocks to serve las dowels holdingthe blocks in end to end engagement with each other, strips extendinglongitudinally in said chamber and having lugs passing through openingsin walls of the chamber to prevent longitudinal movement of the strips,springs for bearing against said lugs and urging the strips inwardly forapplying pressure to the blocks and forming an elongated mass of highlycompressed material, said mass being forced forwardly and progressivelyejected through the outlet of thefcasing as the blocks are formed, meansfor placing said springs under predetermined tension, and means forcutting sections from the ejected mass of material to form briquettes ofdesired length.

3. A briquetting machine comprising a ycasing having a chamber thereinprovided with a rear inlet and an outlet at its front end, means forcompressing material in the chamber and forming blocks moved forwardlythrough the chamber, means for punching `portions of compressed manterial under increased pressure from the blocks and forcing sameforwardly into adjoining blocks to serve as dowels holding the blocks inend to end engagement with each other, strips extending longitudinallyin said chamber and having lugs passing through openings in walls of thes chamber to prevent longitudinal movement of the strips, springs forbearing against said lugs and urging the strips inwardly for applyingpressure to the blocks and forming an elongatedmass of highly compressedmaterial, said massA being forced forwardly and progressively ejectedthrough the outlet of the casing as the blocks are formed, abutments forouter ends of said springs, screws threaded through walls of the casingwith their inner ends vbearing against said abutments 4; A briquettingmachine comprising a casing having a chamber provided with an outlet'atits front end, a head atlthe rear end of the casing having an upstandingfeed neck provided with a side 'inlet, a cylinder` extendinghorizontally from thef head inv'alinement with lthe chamber, a plungerslidable vertically in the neck for forcing material into the chamberand forming a compressed block in front of the cylinder, a stem for saidplunger extending upwardly out of the neck and having a cross bar at itsupper end, a driven shaft rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end ofsaid neck, a cam carried by said shaft having a radially extendingfinger for en-L gaging the cross bar and intermittently shifting theplunger upwardly during rotation of the shaft, a spring for urging theplunger downwardly when the cam movesout of lifting engagement with thecross bar, a drive shaft rotatably mounted, a cam carried by said driveshaft, means for transmitting rotary motion from said drive shaft to thedriven shaft, a horizontal piston slidablel longitudinally through thecylinder, a piston rod actuated from the cam of the drive shaft, aflexible connection between the piston rod and the pistonl forpermitting continued forward movement of the rod relative to the pistonunder increased pressure after the piston has moved a block of materialforwardly in the chamber, a punch associated with said piston and havingmovement with the piston rod for punching a portion of a block forwardlyand forming an opening and a forwardly extending portion for enteringthe opening of the adjoining block to serve as a dowel connecting theblocks and reinforcing the same, means for subjecting forwardly y movingblocks to transverse pressure and form.

ing a mass of highly compressed material progressively ejected from thechamber, and means for cutting the ejected mass into sectionsconstituting briquettes of desired length. k

5. A briquetting machine comprising a casing having a chamber providedwith an outlet at its front end, a head at the rear end of the casinghaving an upstanding feed neck provided with a side inlet, a cylinderextending horizontally from the head in alinement with the chamber, aplunger slidable vertically in the neck for forcing material into thechamber and forming a compressed block in front of the cylinder, a stemfor said plunger extending upwardly out of the neck and having a crossbar at its upper end, a driven shaft rotatably mounted adjacent theupper end of said neck, a cam carried by said shaft for engaging thecross bar and intermittently shifting the plunger upwardly duringrotation of the shaft, a spring for urging the plunger downwardly whenthe cam moves out of lifting engagement with the cross bar, a driveshaft rotatably mounted, a cam carried by said drive shaft, means fortransmitting rotary motion from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, ahorizontal' piston slidable longitudinally through the r wardlytherefrom with their rear portions ypassing through the cross head andformed Withheads for engaging Y- the rear face of the cross head,springs about the pins between the piston and the ,cross head andproviding a yielding conneetion between the cross head andthe piston forpermitting forward movement of the-punch re1ative to the piston byincreased pressure after the piston by increased Vpressure has moved ablock of material forwardly in the chamber, said punch when movedforwardly relative to `the piston serving to force material forwardlyunder increased pressure from va block into ann opening formed inanother block and serve as a dowel for con necting and reinforcing theblocks, vmeans for subjecting forwardlyvmoving blocks to transversepressure `and form of the blocks andrdowels an elongated mass of highlycompressed material reinforced by the dowels land moved vforwardly outof the chamber, and `means for cutting portions from the compressedmass'to form briquettes lo of desired length.

